arter. James had, some time before,
commanded the trustees of the Charterhouse, men of the first rank and
consideration in the kingdom, to admit a Roman Catholic named Popham
into the hospital which was under their care. The Master of the house,
Thomas Burnet, a clergyman of distinguished genius, learning, and
virtue, had the courage to represent to them, though the ferocious
Jeffreys sate at the board, that what was required of them was contrary
both to the will of the founder and to an Act of Parliament. "What is
that to the purpose?" said a courtier who was one of the governors. "It
is very much to the purpose, I think," answered a voice, feeble with
age and sorrow, yet not to be heard without respect by any assembly,
the voice of the venerable Ormond. "An Act of Parliament," continued the
patriarch of the Cavalier party, "is, in my judgment, no light thing."
The question was put whether Popham should be admitted, and it was
determined to reject him. The Chancellor, who could not well case
himself by cursing and swearing at Ormond, flung away in a rage, and was
followed by some of the minority. The consequence was that there was
not a quorum left, and that no formal reply could be made to the royal
mandate.

The next meeting took place only two days after the High Commission
had pronounced sentence of deprivation against Hough, and of suspension
against Fairfax. A second mandate under the Great Seal was laid before
the trustees: but the tyrannical manner in which Magdalene College had
been treated had roused instead of subduing their spirit. They drew up a
letter to Sunderland in which they requested him to inform the King that
they could not, in this matter, obey His Majesty without breaking the
law and betraying their trust.

There can be little doubt that, had ordinary signatures been appended to
this document, the King would have taken some violent course. But
even he was daunted by the great names of Ormond, Halifax, Danby, and
Nottingham, the chiefs of all the sections of that great party to
which he owed his crown. He therefore contented himself with directing
Jeffreys to consider what course ought to be taken. It was announced at
one time that a proceeding would be instituted in the King's Bench, at
another that the Ecclesiastical Commission would take up the case: but
these threats gradually died away. [292]

The summer was now far advanced; and the King set out on a progress, the
longest and the most spl